Department of Biology

The biology program prepares students for careers in biological and medical research, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, medical technology, and secondary school teaching. It also provides a solid background in the biological sciences for students who plan careers in business, social services, government, or environmental fields. Students majoring in biology receive a broad introduction to biological principles at the molecular, organismal, and ecological levels of organization. The biology program emphasizes hands-on learning, and students are encouraged to participate in independent undergraduate research projects.

Facilities

The biology department maintains laboratories and exten- sive equipment including computer-integrated laboratories, research microscopes, high-speed centrifuges, plant growth chambers, bio-amplifiers, UV-Visible spectrophotometers, flow cytometer, PCR and gel electrophoresis equipment that permits a wide range of undergraduate study and research. These are located on the second floor of Drew Hall of Science and in the Robbins Science Center. Students conducting projects may arrange to use these facilities outside of regularly scheduled laboratory sessions. Computer integration is a focus of the biology curriculum, and six biology laboratories are equipped with networked computers at each group workstation. These labs are also equipped with multimedia presentation stations, and equipment for computerized data acquisition and analysis.